"Jess!"
Break"Leslie! Hang on!"
BreakCool, cold water. Swirling around her head. She couldn't see. She couldn't breath
Rope"Leslie!" A pale hand sticking out of the water. He couldn't jump in, he couldn't.
RopeOh, what a great goddamn time to lose his nerve.
RopeHe reached for her hand. He was ruler of Terebithia, she was Queen. He was fearless. He had fought trolls. He could reach her hand.
BlackHe wasn't coming. Jess had abandoned her. Left her for dead on the bottom of a river. If he only knew how he'd made her feel…
BlackSomething was wrong with the water. It was red. Holy Shit, red was the color of blood. Leslie's blood. He dived.
Black"Hang in there, Less!" Crap, this water was cold. A pale form floated in front of him. He kicked against the current, kicked against every nerve in his body telling him to swim back up.
HandHis hand, right there. Easy to grab. Why wouldn't her arms obey her?
HandHe grabbed and felt strands of hair float through his fingers, the last twirls of Leslie Burke sifting like sand through his very soul. He grabbed again.
HandSomething. Touching. Her. Arm.
What's. Happening?
Water
He kicked and kicked, feeling his life leave his body. At least he was with Leslie. At least he died with his mind wide open.
WaterHer. Head. Hurt.
Where. Was. Jess?
WaterHe stopped trying. He let the water carry him down the river. So. This. Was. What. Dying. Felt. Like
LoveHe. Kissed. Her.
Now. Why. Did. He. Do. That?
LoveShe kicked a little, fighting of the darkness in her head with the heat pulsing from her lips.
LoveSo this is what love felt like?
WordsHer mouth struggled to form the words. She finally got them.
" I love you, Jess"
Words"I love you too, Leslie." And then nothing
TerabithiaThe Terebinthians gathered at the bridge, their excitement pulsing thorough every vein in the crowd.
TerebithiaWhen were King And Queen going to be here?
TerebithiaFinally a small gnome called out, "There!" and they were at the bridge, god like and radiant in their burial garments. To stay. Forever
HomeThe Terebinthians clapped as the King and Queen walked through the crowd to the palace. They clasped each other's hands.
They were going home.
